In a groundbreaking development, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, has announced that private sector donors will contribute a total of €860 million (approximately $1 billion) towards the construction of the Future Circular Collider (FCC). This marks the first significant financial involvement from private entities in CERN’s history. The Geneva-based institution revealed this information following an announcement by the French news agency AFP.
CERN emphasized that these contributions are contingent upon the approval of its member states, which continue to be the primary financiers of the organization. The FCC project, if approved, aims to be completed by 2040 and will be located in an underground tunnel measuring 91 kilometers in circumference, significantly larger than the existing 27-kilometer tunnel of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The FCC’s objectives include exploring the nature of around 95% of the universe’s energy and matter, particularly addressing the long-standing mystery of matter-antimatter asymmetry.
CERN’s Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti, expressed her enthusiasm regarding the participation of private donors. “This is the first time in history that private sector donors have come together with CERN to build an extraordinary research instrument that will allow humanity to make major advances in understanding fundamental physics and the Universe,” she stated.
Among the notable private supporters are the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, established by Silicon Valley billionaire Iouri Milner, and the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Strategic Innovation Fund, led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Other key contributors include John Elkann, chairman of the Stellantis group, and Xavier Niel, founder of the telecommunications company Iliad.
The total estimated cost for the FCC exceeds €15 billion, positioning it as one of the most ambitious scientific initiatives in history. Pete Worden, president of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, articulated the shared mission behind the funding, stating, “Understanding the fundamental nature of our universe is everyone’s responsibility. We are proud to support the creation of an instrument that can shed new light on some of humanity’s most fundamental questions.”
The current LHC made headlines in 2012 with the discovery of the Higgs boson, a key particle that helps explain the fundamental mass of matter. This achievement is considered one of the most significant scientific milestones of the 21st century.
Looking ahead, the fate of the FCC remains uncertain as the CERN Council, which consists of representatives from 25 member states, is expected to make a final decision regarding the construction of the accelerator in 2028. This decision will be based on comprehensive scientific, financial, and political evaluations.
The unprecedented financial commitment from the private sector signifies a transformative shift in how fundamental research is financed, potentially redefining the relationship between science, government, and private capital. As this new chapter unfolds, the collaboration between private donors and CERN could usher in a new era for scientific exploration and discovery.
